Switch-stand



F. C. ANDERSON.

SWITCH STAND.

.APPLICATION man MAR. s, 1921.

PatentedSept. 6, 1921.

I Inf/en or w @QM/@wa o finely.

YlI/Il/lllll l/Il UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

,FRANK-G. ANDERSON, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

SWITCH-STAND.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 6, 19,21.

Application filed March 3, 1921. Serial No; 449,401.

claimed in my Patent No. 1,360,862, datedl November 30, 1920, upon which the present invention is an improvement. Its object, like the switch-stand of that patent, is to combine ease of manual switch-throwing operation with control of the point-rails by a weighted handle, to permit normal operation without excessive vibration or opening of the vpoint-rails, but to permit opening if the switch is run through, without resilient or breakable connections. A further object is to adjustthe stand to different switches and to compensate for wear, as in the patent referred to. It is the especial object of the present invention to simplify and facilitate the construction and operation of my switchstand in those respects. Other objects, peculiar to the present invention, as well as in commonwith those of the justmentioned patent, will appear in the course of the ensuing description. v

rI attain these objects by the device illustrated, for example, in the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a sectional plan view of the switch-stand, the section being on a plane corresponding to the line l-Lof Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a sectional front elevation, the section being on a plane corresponding to the line 2 2 of Fig..1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical front-tofrear section on a plane-corresponding to the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a perspective detail view of the rack;

Fig.l 5 is a partial bottom plan view of the base and the switch-throwing crank mounted therein; I

Fig. 6 is a vertical lengthwise section of the adjustable crank, on a plane corresponding to the line 6-6 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 7 is a perspective detail view of one of the shims. p

The base of the stand comprises the midopposite ends curving down to the footplates 3 similar to those disclosed and claimed in said patent. Also, as in that patent, this base comprises the front shaft bearing 4 and the segmental extension 5 at the rear, with the crank-and-clutch bearing opening down through the middle part 1 substantially concentric with said rear extension, and, between this opening 6 and the front bearing 4, the substantially semicylindrical depression 7. It likewise has the two front pedestals 8 at the opposite sides of the depression 7, and the rear pedestal 9, running entirely Vacross between the rear end of the depression 7 and said bearing opening 6. The vcasing is also similar to that of the patent referred to, with front shaft bearing 110, rear extension with the target-shaftbearing opening 11, flat top, and open bottom, permitting it to be placed down over the interior working parts after the latter have been fully assembled on the base, and to be'bolted to the base by means of the front bolts 12 and the rear bolts 13, as in said patent. This casing, and the base and Several details thereof, are claimed in said patent, but are fully disclosed herein to elucidate the disclosure of the present invention.

The handle-lever 14 has at one end the weight-handle 15 of approved design, and at its other end, preferably forged integrally therewith, the pinion shaft 16. This shaft 16 lies in the front shaft bearings 4 and 10 of the base and casing, respectively, and has keyed on it the pinion-segment 17 occupying the depression 7 of the base and having at its front end a short hub 18, through which hub is a pin 19, passing through the shaft 16. As here disclosed, this pinionsegment 17 has seven teeth, the terminal ones of the series being. diametrically opposite; Vand, it is so keyed to the shaft 16 that its middle tooth is alined with the handle lever 14. This pinion and lever arrangement is Y similar to that in said patent, the most notable difference being that there are Seven teeth in the pinion instead of five; the pinion being larger in proportion to the 'other parts of the stand than in said patent. These are only details of size,to afford a greater degree of movement. The rack 20 comprises the flat body 2 with siX teeth 22 in longitudinal series along the bottom of the body 21, and with ythe cylindrical upward extension or pin 23 substantially midway of the length of the body 21 on the top thereof, and preferably slightly nearer to the rear edge than to the front edge of said body. VThe rack teeth 22 are shorter than the front-to-rear width of the body, leaving longitudinal bearing surfaces 24C and 25 atv front and rear, to bear on the tops of the pedestals 8 and 9,V respectively. These pedestals are of the proper height to support the rack for correct meshing with the teeth of the pinion-segment 17 andv for thefrack 2O to travel transversely of the easing on these pedestals as the segment 17 is turned through a half revolution by throwing the handle-lever 111 from one side of the stand to the other. The rack 20, at its extreme positions, is supported by the rear pedestal 9 and by one of thevfront pedestals 8; and to act as guides unden these conditions the rack has small lugs 26 at the corners of the body 21, and small lugs 27 about midway of the length of the body 21, at front and rear, bearing against the adjacent sides ofthe pedestals, so that one or the other pair of corner lugs 26 and the middle lugs "27 serveto hold the rack in alinement with the pedestals in either one.

lof its two extreme positions;V

The target-shaft 28V will be understood to be of suitable design-in its upper part, with target elements and lamp-supporting means, for instance as shown inthe patent referred to, and similarly it has its lower end threaded andsome distanceabove the threads has a transverse opening. The intermediate crank 29 comprises, in one casting, preferably 4of malleable iron, the rather large hubV 8O down through which the target-,shaft 28 lits, snugly; and in the front part of the arm of this" crank is the short longitudinal slot 3l, by which it has an easy fit down over the upward extension or pin 23V of the rack 2O when the crank 29e-is thus mounted on the target-shaft 28 with the latter bearing in the casing-top opening` 11 and the lowerend part of the vhub 30. fitting down in the crank-and-clutch. opening 6 of the base.

This 'lower end part ofthe hub 30 hasl its lowerl face'transversely grooved, and-up a proper distance has the annular flange 32 that rests on top of the base around the opening 6,' holdingthe crank 29 at` the right height to work/easilywith the rack 20';

lwhile the target-shaft 28 is supported in this crank by a pin 38' slipped through the transverse opening Sli in the hub at the right height, Vand through the target-shaft opening. These details of crank and targetshaft' mounting are such as are disclosed and claimed in said patent, as is also the holding; of the pin 83 in its position by its extension out against the inner concave wall olfthe segmental rear extension of the casing,l v j l* l i v vThe direct switch-throwing crank-hub or crank-block is of T-shape, with the stem of the T cylindrical Vand extending upward site sides (Fig. 6). The lower-end part of the intermediate-crank hub 30 extends only partly through the opening 6,y which opening is through a much thickened part of the base middle .part 1, and so is of considerable length; and the upper end part of the hub 35 meets the hub 30 therein, with itsv clutch-teeth 37 iitting in the corresponding transverse grooves 38 in the lower end of the intermediate-crank hub* 30 (F ig. 3), in a manner similar to that of the crank connection as disclosed and claimed in the patent referred to, and with'the advantages set fort-h therein. l

rlhe transverse lower part of the T -shaped crank hub 35 has an opening through it from end to end, and its opposite ends are flat, except that at their bottom edges they have transverse .horizontally extending ledges 89. rThe direct-switch-throwing crank arm l0 is generally of the shapeof a pin or bolt, Vwith one end part tlthreaded-and its other end part 42 flattened into thel form of an eye; and it also comprises, next to this eye part 12,`a iiange 43 to bear againstV one end of the tranverse part of the crank-hub when the pin part of this crank arm is inserted through the lengthwise opening in said transverse part. Thetop of this Y flange 43 preferably is rounded; but its bottcm is made straight to lit snugly down on the transverse ledge 39 of the respective end of the crank-hub part, thus preventing vturn- 'ng ofthe crank-arm in ythe hub, and, this straight bottom being parallel with the hat upper and lower sides of theeye part42, the crank-armis heldin poroper switch-connecting position in the hub A number of-shims or washers 114i arev provided, each of general il l shape (Fig. 7) with the members ofthe U flat transversely; these being like those shown and claimed in my patentreferred to, and being assembled with the crank parts in a similar `manner, as claimed thereinf ln the present'invention, however, it is the ledgev 39 of the respective adjacent end of thecranlr-hub-part that receives the lower ends of the inverted U-shaped shims or washers 4:4 as these'are placed astraddle of the'crank-arm 40 between said end of the hub part andthe nut 45 screwed ontov the threaded end part 41 of the arm 40. Thus the shimsor washers lz-l Vare prevented from -turningxaround on the arm 40, so that they cannot escape therefromsidewise. f v

The connecting-rod 6 is forked, with its members :e7 Vstraddlingthe eye'partf4r21of the crank-arm L10 and receiving the crankpin 48 down through, the-members of the rod and through this eye, in a well known clusive of that of the extension 49, onlyV slightly above the top of the head of the 4crank-pin 48, throughout the extent of swinging of the crank-pin under the switchstand base. In the extension 49, however, at opposite sides of the rear casing eXtension, are transversely elongated openings or slots 51, through which the crank-pin 48 may be droppedv into its position when making the switch connection; the elongation of these slots 51 permitting this whatever the length Vto which the switch-throwing crank is adjusted, asis permitted by transferring one or more of the shims ,or washers 44 from one end of the transverse crank-hub part to the other while the nut 45 is loosened, then vtightening this nut. As the crank-pin 48 passes quickly under thev slot 51, it is practically prevented from rising out of its position at all times; vand as it is always out from under the slot 51 when the switch isthrown to either position,

Y with the pin 48 under the stand or out lunder the extension 49, rise of the pin under the 'switch-holding strains and vibrations is positively prevented. By this the use of cotters, nuts and the like to hold the pin,

with their liability of breakage or displacement, is obviated.

The assembly of the stand is'accomplished as described in the vpatent referred to ,Mthe improved intermediate crank, with its slotted arm: fitting over the rack lug or pin 28, being readily placed in position by movement thereof down onto the rack at right angles to the fiat top thereof, Aafter the manner of assemblage ofthe intermediate crank with the other parts, as claimed in my patent referred to, This slotted arm and pin connection between the segment and the intermediate crank permit of a-very ample degree of movement of the'rack with a given angle of turning of the intermediate crank and switch-throwing crank, coaXially connected as set forth. This allows a very considerable leverage from handle-lever to switch, by virtue of the increased length of the intermelsiate crank over that of the direct-switchthrowing crank, without adding to the length of the handle-lever or decreasing the length of the direct-throwing crank, neither ofV which is permissible in practice. This, in

connection with the smallness of the pinion permitted, all of which is set forth fully in said patent, allows such leverage as may be needed; on the one hand to permit easy throwing of the switch by the operative holding to the handle of the stand, and on the other hand, enabling the moderate weight of the handle to afford the right resistance to the switch-point movement under traiiic to avoid opening under normal conditions, but to permitopening of the point rails when the switch is run through in the wrong direction, without breakage of the switch or stand parts, but with the weighted handle-lever merely being thrown over under the strain imposed by the rolling stock under these abnormal conditions. Thus latches are not needed, except where the switch must be locked, as on main lines.

These advantages, fully set forth in the patent referred to, are realized by the present invention with greater facility, because the slotted-arm and pin connection permits a freer'choice of dimensions for these parts than does the connection as disclosed in said patent, in which connections of this manner of assemblage are claimed broadly. Similarly, the novel shim-retaining ledges 39, and the crank-pin retaining parts 49 and 50, facilitate the assemblage of the stand and its switch connection, and add to the safety 'of railway tratlic by their security against disconnection of the parts. It will be understood that the crank-arm 40 is subject to reversal of position in the crank-hub, for a switch of different direction; upon which the opposite one of the two pin-admitting slots 51 would be needed for making the switch connection.

It will be understood that this present invention is subject to modications such as alluded to in the patent referred'to, and in such respects as it isl equivalent to or identical with the device therein disclosed and claimed, it is subject to the protection of Said patent. Therefore, while many details thereof are herein disclosed, and the details hereof are rather specifically shown and described herein, I do not wish to be understood as being limited to such precise showing and description, but having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new herein and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a switch-stand, mechanism comprising a lever and a spur pinion coaXially connected, a rack above and meshing with said pinion and having an upward extension on its top, an intermediate crank above said top of said rack, having a longitudinal slot receiving said upward extension, a crankblock coaxially connected with said intermediate crank, a base forming bearing and supporting means for said mechanism and having an opening through which said intermediate crank and said crank-block are connected, a crank-arm extending through said crank-block, having one end threaded and having rod-connecting means at its opposite end, a nut on. saidthreaded end, a U-shaped shim inverted and astraddle Yof said crank-arm between said nut and said ed on said means, a spur pinion coaxially connected to said levery and 'meshing with the teeth of said rack element, a lever-engaging projection on said rack element, an intermediate crank having a longitudinal slot receiving said projection oi said rack element and having a bearing in said supporting means, and a direct switch-throwing crank coaxially connected with said intermediate crank.- i Y f Y 3. In a switch-stand, supporting means, a rack element and a lever operatively mounted on said means, a spur pinion coaxially connected to said lever and meshing with the teeth of said rack element, a lever-engaging projection on said rackelement, an intermediate crank having a longitudinall Vslot receiving said projection of said rack element and having a bearing in said supporting means, and a direct switch-throwing cra-nk coaxially connected with said intermediate crank and oit-'set downwardly therefrom.

4:. In a switchstandsupporting means, mechanism operatively supported by said means, comprising a lever and a spur pinion coaxially connected, a rack element having teeth meshing with said pinion and having a lever-engaging projection, an intermediate crank having a longitudinal slot receiving saidprojection of saidv rack element, and a direct switch-throwing crank coaxially connected with said intermediate crank andextending below the lowest part of said supporting means foreonnection to switch-con necting means therebelow.

y 5. In a switch-stand, mechanism comprising a lever and a spur pinion coaxially connected, a rack above and meshing with said pinion, an upward projection on the top of said'rack, an intermediate crank above said rack and having a longitudinal slot receiving said projection of said rack a direct switchthrowing. crank coaxially connected `with said intermediate crank, and means operatively supporting said mechanism. 6. In a switch-stand, a rack element corn prising a main flat part with teeth and a longitudinal bearing surtace'along one flat side, and a single crank-engaging projection on its opposite flat side, adapted to enter a crank slot in a crank moved toward said side at right angles to the flat Vsurface of said side. L

7. In a switch-stand, a crank-block with Opposite flat sides with an opening through it from one iiat side to the other, a crankarm through said opening'with retaining means nearv one end and rod-connecting means at its other end, a shim of general U-shape between said retaining means and said crank-block, astraddle of Said crankarm, and a projection on said crank-block to engage anedge of said shim. Y

Sfln a switch-stand, a crank-block with opposite flat sides with an opening through it from one flatfside tov the other, a crankarm through said vopening with Vretaining means nearf one end and rod-connecting means at its other end, a shim of Vgeneral U-shape betweenV said retaining means and said crank-block, astraddle of said crankarm, and. projections on said crank-block at Vit from one fiat side to the other, and projections on said crank-block at its opposite flat sides, for the purpose set forth.

10. In a switch-stand, an' intermediate crank having a longitudinal slot for operative engagement with a rectilinearly moving member of said stand, said slothaving both ends closed-whereby the material of said crank along the sides of said slot is supported at both ends of said slot. e 11.` In a-switch-stand, a base having a bearing `for a crank Aon an upright axis, and having a. projection past saidbearing to retain connecting'means in a crank mounted in said bearing.- Y Y A 12. In a switch-stand, a V,base having a bearing for a crank on an upright axis, and having projections past said bearing at both sides of said bearing to retain connecting means in a crank mounted in said'bearing and swinging to either side of said bearing. 13. In a switch-stand, a base having a bearing for a crank on an upright axis, and having a projection past said bearing to retain connecting means in a crank mounted in said bearing, said projection having an opening near one side of said bearing, to admit the connecting means to the crank at an in- I bearing for a crank onan upright axis, andV h aving projections past said bearing at both sides of said bearing to retain connecting ymeans in a crank mounted in said bearing and swinging to either side oi said bearing, said projections having openings at opposite sides of said bearing, to admit the connecting means to the crank at intermediate positions of said crank when swinging to either side of rsaid bea-ring.

15. In a switch-stand, a base having a bearing for a crank on an upright axis, and having a projection past said hearing to retain connecting means in a crank mounted in said bearing, said projection having an opening prolonged at a substantial angle to the arc of swinging of the crank, t0 admit the connecting means to the crank at an intermediate position of said crank and at various distances from the bearing axis due to variations in effective length of the crank.

16. In a switch-stand, a base having a bearing for a crank on an upright axis, and having projections past said bearing at opposite sides of said bearing to retain connecting means in a crankmounted in said bearing and swinging to either side of said bearing, said projections having openings prolonged across the arc of swinging of the crank, to admit connecting means to the crank at intermediate positions of said crank when swinging to either side orP said bearing and at various distances from the bearing axis due to variations in effective length of thev crank.

17. In a switch-stand, a base having a bearing for a crank on an upright axis and having a projection past said bearing out from under said base, and having a downward projection on its bottom contiguous to said bearing, said projections overlying connecting means in a crank mounted in said bearing and preventing displacement of the connecting means from its connecting position.

FRANK C. ANDERSON. 

